I was having one of those days where my mind was going in every direction. I felt like I could not make up my mind about anything. I do not know what causes those days but they happen on occasion.

I knew it was one of those days when I wandered around the Marché Victor Hugo unable to make up my mind on what I wanted to buy for dinner for Sunday and Monday. There are multiple individual stands for each different item you want to buy – cheese, pork, beef, poultry, seafood, bakery, and others. I usually have a plan on which stands I am going to shop and what I am going to buy. Today, I could not make up my mind so I wandered around for way too long. I think the salesperson at the bakery thought it was funny because after I bought a baguette I wandered by her stand a number of times. Other than taking up time, it really did not matter.

In the end, I bought some Limousin lamb chops for the lamb stand. The woman who works the stand is very funny. She had been helping a man and he wandered off to look at a different section of the stand. She basically told me he was crazy and a problem. I guess she knew him. He was also consuming a beer while shopping and it was around 10:00 am. She, also, told me that they should be seared and served rare. I enjoy that many of the people I interact with tangentially think I am French and speak to me in French. I do not always understand but can get enough to continue listening and the conversations. Also, while helping she was busy directing the other workers in what they should be doing. I think one of them is her husband.

I decided to be somewhat adventurous since I had such trouble deciding and bought some rabbit. I had cooked some last time I was here and thought I could do it again. That is for dinner for Monday so I will discuss how I do once I have cooked it.

My shopping at the St. Aubin’s open air market was not as confusing. I had decided I wanted to cook ratatouille as I had some eggplant and onion for earlier meals that I wanted to use up. I bought a red pepper and a zucchini. I picked up my olives – they treat me so wall. The cost was 5.88 euros but they only charged me 5 euros. This happens every time, they round down. I picked up fruit for breakfast. I was that two or three stands had strawberries which surprised me. I will have to figure out where they come from and how they are available in the fall as they are fresh and do not seem to be imported as one stand was only selling the strawberries.

There were competing bands at the market. One on each side of the loop where the market is set up. I was amused as the music would be competing as they were not very far apart.

I got caught by the early closing of shops on Sunday as I realized I needed some wine for dinner. I waited too late and my regular wine shop was closed. Luckily, they sell wine at all the corner grocery store and it is usually reasonable wine. I got a bottle of Fronton for $6.00. It is amazing that you can buy wine from a grocery store for that cost and that it is not plunk.

There were two open air markets that I walked through. One was the craft market in Place Saint Pierre and one was a true flea market on a street down by the river. Both were doing good foot traffic but I do not know about sales.

After my shopping for wine, I had an Aperol Spritz at Bar Basque as my reward for making it through my indecisive day.

Dinner worked out well. The ratatouille tasted great. The lamb chops were very tender and good. I looked up Limousin sheep and they are raised in the area of south west France north of Toulouse near the Pyrenees. They are grass grazed and at higher altitudes. The Limousine is a protected area for sheep. It is characterized by a large fat layer that makes it tender. The chops were good.

I guess I am becoming a French foodie as I am learning about the different types of food available and how the French label and classify it. I guess that happens when one has too much time on their hands.

I, also, saw an accordion band at the Port Daurade on my wander. A couple was dancing to the music.

I hope I get my focus back on Monday. I have to do laundry, clean and go for a run.